RIGA, Jan 28 (LETA) - Shortly before the Jekabpils council meeting where local councilors planned to adopt this year's budget, Jekabpils Mayor Aivars Kraps announced that he is resigning from the mayor's post and is leaving For Latvia's Development party.

As reported, the Corruption Prevention Bureau earlier detained Kraps in relation to a criminal process and has banned him from taking the position, thus the mayor is unable to perform his duties and has decided to step down.

"In relation to the media reports about a criminal case on suspicion of possible irregularities by Jekabpils City Council officials in connection with procurements performed by a municipal company, I would like to publicly affirm that I have not performed any illegal action and I am ready to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities to prove that these accusations are wrong," Kraps said in a statement to the press.

Kraps told LETA that he will still make the decision whether to continue work at the local council as a lawmakers and run for the upcoming municipal elections. He will still take part in today's local council meeting.

As reported, KNAB on January 21 performed urgent sanctioned actions, including 24 searches. Four persons were detained in the criminal proceeding, and later they were released. Among the detainees, there were Kraps, lawmaker Nikolajs Anuskevics (Latgale Party) and the head of Jekabpils Pakalpojumi municipal company, Guntars Leitans.

KNAB reported that two of the persons are suspects in the case, and one of them is a person against whom a criminal proceeding has been started.